By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Suresh Rajcoomar.
Lions prop Conraad van Vuuren has been handed a four-match suspension following his red card in the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 12 defeat to the Stormers on February 28.
Van Vuuren was shown a red card in the 68th minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
According to the rules, dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders, even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
In the player’s responses to the judicial officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Sheriff Kathrine Mackie), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, which warranted a red card.
Mackie found that the incident met the red card threshold, with an entry of mid-range warranting six weeks.
The player received two weeks of mitigation due to acknowledgment of culpability, his apology and good conduct throughout the disciplinary process, resulting in a four-game suspension.
Should Van Vuuren complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.
URC fixtures Van Vuuren unavailable for
Lions vs Edinburgh, Saturday, 21 March
Lions vs Dragons, Saturday, 28 March
Lions vs Glasgow Warriors, Saturday, 18 April
Lions vs Connacht, Saturday, 25 April.